Chapter 24 Old Joe’s Diner
MIDNIGHT PACK
Arlo had seen her from afar when she had stepped into the field with her friend and his mouth had been left open at the sight of her beauty. He could sense that she was a wolf and a quiet one at that but it still didn’t mean he would be stopped in his quest to meet with her.
Just as Arlo excused himself from the group and made an attempt to walk up to her but he saw her friend suddenly running up to David. Arlo smiled to himself, knowing that she obviously heading towards the picnic too. He recognized Alice as David’s new girlfriend and could tell from the way the other girl walked behind that she was the friend he had spoke about.
A flash had beeped on his phone and he made a move to pick the call only to get a message from his uncle trying to make sure he is doing fine. Arlo rolled his eyes as he typed on his phone, an assurance that he was doing good. He got back to the group just in time to see Jovy settling into the spread mat for everyone to sit on. Excitement filled him when he saw that she had taken a spot next to where he was sitting.
“Hey beautiful.”
Jovy was startled at the sound of the voice very close to her. She had almost forgotten it wasn’t just her at the picnic. And what she wasn’t expecting was someone sitting so close to her and talking into her ears.
“Oh! Hey Arlo.” Alice beamed as she sighted him making a move on her friend.
Arlo grinned at her. “How are you, Alice?”
“I am good.” She nodded with a bright smile on her face.
“Well I am still waiting for you to introduce your friend here. I missed that part.” He wiggled his brows
Alice giggled lightly. “Arlo meet my best friend, Jovy. And Jovy meet Arlo.” She introduced.
Jovy let out a brief smile. She has never heard of such name. It sounds ancient. “Oh.” She mouthed.
“Old and strange right?” Arlo asked as if he had read her mind.
“I have never heard of it. I am sorry.” Jovy admitted.
“It’s fine since I get that most of the time…so it’s all cool. Jovy, it is a… nice name. And…” Arlo’s voice trailed off as he tried to think of what to say to strike a conversation with her.
“Nice to meet you.” Jovy smiled shyly. It had been a while since she was able to hold a conversation for long with a guy, the last was Farrell and judging by how bright Arlo’s personality is, it worried her that she would scare him off with her inability to socialize.
“Nice to meet you too.” Arlo replied.
Alice peeped from David’s arm that she was resting on. She was glad that Jovy was a bit relaxed than earlier and she was settling in comfortably. This time around she would be more time conscious of when they would leave the college to prevent Jovy from getting punished for something she didn’t do.
“Why are you smiling?” David asked as he nibbled at her ears.
Alice giggled. “I am just glad someone showed an interest in talking to her. I have been worried that I would have to share my attention between you and my best friend.” She heaved a sigh of relief.
David groaned. “I wouldn’t have liked that one bit.” They both laughed holding onto each other.
“You seem a bit uncomfortable, did Alice drag you down here against your will?” Arlo commented as he tilted his head to enable him have a good view of her face. She was a perfect description of beauty. And staring into her green eyed made it look like he was being bound under a spell.
Jovy rolled her eyes. “How did you catch on? Typical of Alice right?”
Arlo let out a soft laugh that made Jovy look up to face him. He looked so handsome with the smile highlighting his face. “Yeah. I trust Alice to do such a thing.”
“Have you known her for long?” Jovy asked.
Arlo leaned in a bit but not to close. “Yes, she is a wild cat. We got acquainted at a party and since then we have hit it off so well.”
“Then you must have been the one who invited her over to the frat party two weeks ago.”
Arlo nodded. “Wait a second…don’t tell me you were there!”
Jovy shook her head. “Yes, we came together.” She held her breath to avoid divulging any information about what she had done that night. “I didn’t mingle much so I doubt if you would have noticed me.”
Arlo nodded his head. “I had invited her over most importantly to meet with David. He had taken a keen interest in her when he saw her pictures. So how was the party?”
“A nightmare.” Jovy wanted to say as her reply but she thought against it. She faked a small smile. “Not so bad…I mean…it was okay.” She stuttered.
Arlo looked around to see that everyone had become engrossed in themselves. He wanted a bit of an alone time with Jovy just to get to know her better. She seem like someone with an interesting personality.
“Should we take a walk?” He offered.
Jovy face lit up in excitement. She was dying to get away from the love birds surrounding her. “Sure, I don’t mind.”
Arlo stood up immediately. “Alright then, let’s go.” He offered her his hand and Jovy held it firmly to lift herself up.
Her skin was so soft against his hand. Arlo had to rebuke himself from thinking beyond the hold. Their pace fell into the same rhythm as they moved their legs stealthily on the grass. Once again, Jovy kind of felt at home. There was some sort of comfort that came with being next to Arlo within the last few minutes they have spent in each other’s company and that made her want to keep walking next to him.
“So, tell me, what do you do aside going to Finlay High?” He asked with a full smile grazing his face.
Jovy shrugged lightly as she kicked against the wet grass. “Nothing much aside working in a diner not too far from school. I don’t have much activities.”
“Hmm. You are sort of an introvert?” Arlo stated.
“Maybe.”
Arlo observed her for a while as they both kept quiet but still walking side to side. He didn’t know what it was about this girl but he knew he wanted to spend some time with her. It was unlike him to get so interested or keen in a complete stranger without giving it some days to figure a bit of the person out but this case his wolf had already taken notice of her as a good one. He could sense she has a couple of things bothering her. However, maybe just maybe he would be able to help her out by being a friend.
“Do you mind me being your friend?” Arlo blurted out, hoping he doesn’t regret expressing himself.
Jovy raised a brow, surprised at how easy it came to a college guy to ask a plain Jane like herself to be his friend. It amused her really much. She wondered if he wasn’t seeing more to her being in a picnic? Can’t he see who she is? Not the happy Jovy? Just a latent wolf. An outcast that no one wants to be friends with or have around.
“I don’t know what this is, but I am really not a fun person to have around. I will definitely bore you out.” She said.
“Are you trying to discourage me from being friends with you?”
“No…No…I just don’t want you to have regrets afterwards.”
“What regret?” He paused. “Come on, Alice doesn’t have any regret being friends with you so I won’t have-”
“You can’t be too sure.” She cuts in sharply.
Arlo stared at her until he noticed the sadness in her eyes but it faded too quickly. He knew at that moment that there was more to this girl standing in front of him. His wolf was certain she was battling with something bigger than he could handle but he was willing to take the risk.
“You got me real good there. But I am not backing out now. Can I get your contact?” He requested.
“Are you sure-”
“Your contact.” He reached out to her right hand and dropped his cellphone in it.
Jovy nodded her head. “Okay. It’s no problem.”
Arlo watched as her delicate fingers typed on the phone screen. He was smitten at her sight. Aside her being pretty, her green eyes are what he loves most about her being and he could spend hours looking into them.
“Here you go.” Jovy handed the phone back to him, smiling to herself as the blush kept creeping onto her cheeks.
“Your diner address, where is it at?” He asked.
“Ol’Joe diner. It is about three streets away from Finlay High. Trust me you won’t miss it cause it is easy to find.”
“Expect to see me coming all the way for some piece of Ol’Joe’s diner.” He winked. Almost as if it was planned, his belly growled loud as they both stood facing each other.
“Someone is hungry.”Jovy giggled.
“Guess that’s an alarm to go back.” Arlo chuckled.
He motioned towards the way back and they both walk beside each other as they smiled to themselves.